Game board



March 19, 1935. I L, LINDSTROM 1,995,263

' GAME BOARD Filed Dec. 30, 1953 INVENTOR. FRANK L 1 INDSTROM ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 19 1935 iJNlTED STATES FATE I GAME BOARD Frank' L.'Lindstrom,z Bridgeport, Conn. Application December 30, 1933, Serial N0.70 i,681.

. I "6 Claims. (Cl.'273--121;) V f This invention-relates to-new and useful improvements in game apparatus;

' An object of the invention is topprovide agame board including improved structural features whereby thersame is strong and durable andfyet may berrmanufactured at-low cost.. 7, 1 A further object is to provide agame board in- :cluding: an improved arrangement of obstructions or barriers-whereby the movements of game: pieces about drzover'. the face .of' the board are guided and controlled.

'An;additional:-.objectis to provide improved means forsecuringlbarriers or guidesinplaceon a gameboard.

A further .objectis-tor'provide a. game board including an ropening and a propv to .extendipartially into the opening2tousupport the board at an incline and: provide 'a cup to:receive a playing piece. 7 H

Other objects and advantages will'become .apparent from a consideratiorrof thefollowingdetailed-description taken inoconnection with. the accompanying drawing wherein. a satisfactory embodiment of the invention iss hown. How'ever, it will beunderstood that the invention isv not limited 'toathe details 'Idisclosed but .includesall such variations and modifications as i all within the spirit of the invention and: thescope of the appended'claims.

In'the drawing: e e V Fig. 1' is a top plan view of the: improved game board;

Fig. 12 Ba transverse sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 2- -2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View taken-substantially along the line 3"3'of 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailsectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken'substantially along the line 55'of Fig. 1. Referring-in detail to the drawing, the improved apparatus includes a base member or board 10, the lower edge of which maybe square and the upper edgeof which may be rounded as shown. The board'issubstantiallyrectangularwith-the exception of its upper curved edge. A sheet metal strip 11 is disposed-about the sides andupper or curved edge of the board and is -secured to such edges by tacks or the like 12 and projects about the upper orplaying surface of the board as clearly shownin Figs. 2 and 3. --On'the playing surface" of the board or base 10 and-at oneside -edge thereof there is arranged-a projecting device generally designated 13 and over'the upper edge oftheend portion-'23 of strip '11 whereby said'strip isfurther supported.

comprisinga housingincluding a sheet :metal angle-member 14 arrangedwith its arm 15 in .spacedmand substantially parallel relation :to .a .side portion of the strip 11 andhav-ingthe free edge 16, of saidarm out-turned and secured to the base as by tacks or nails 17. The arm 18 of said member 14 forms the upper or roof member. of the housing of the projectorand has its free edge 19 down-turned and embracing the outer surface oi:the .uppenedgeportion oi the strip 11 as shownzin Fig.2. In thesaidar-m 18'an open- ,ingz20 is. provided for the introduction ofamarbles 1'01. other playing pieces into the projector.

The actual projecting part or means of the projector 13 comprises a rod: or plunger 21 the inner-end ofcwhich carries a washer-likemember 22 between which and .a' stop 23 there islocated a coil. spring 24 the latter being disposed about the rod. The outer end of the rodpasses through the stop 23 anda-wall 25 closing the outer end of the-housing ofthe'projector andis secured. to any suitable hand or.finger-piecex26kwhich by engagement with the wall 25 limits movementof rod orplunger 21 under the influence of spring 24.1" Obviously, on a marble being introduced into thejprojectorthrcugh the, opening 20 the marble will be in advance or" the shooter orgun comprisbe drawn outwardlyin a direction? to compress the spring 24 and as the marble-will movein- V wardly of the projectorasthe inner end'of .the rod "21 moves inwardlygthe said marble willlbe shot through the projector by expansion oflthe spring on release of the hand piece 26.; i

A member 27 closes the playingfield between portion. 0': the'arm 29 or the member isrtacked to .thexlower edge of. the base lil as ati30 and the connecting portion 31 of said member is disposed over the lower edge portion of the" base 1 0 and the other arm 32 of said memberfat its free ed'g'e abuts the upper or playing surface of the base -10.' Relatively Il'ong nails 33 may be passed through-the connecting'portion' of the member.

and into the base asbest shown in Fig. 5. At one end the-connecting portion 31 of member "2'7 carries a lip or flanges; which is downturned .upper curved portion 40 arranged in spaced relation to the upper curved edge of the board and continuing on into a curved portion 41 corresponding with the curved portion 3'7 of member 36 and a curved portion 42 corresponding with the curved portion 38 of member 36.

A pair of similar sheet metal members43 are associated one with each of the guides or barriers and 36 and said members 43 are each transversely substantially in the form of an inverted 'L and each includes an outer straight wall portion 44 the free and lower edge of which is disposed against-the upper surface of the base 10 and each of said members also includes an upper arm 45 which arm has its free edge portion shaped to correspond with the curved portions'3'7 and 38 and 40 and 41 of the members 36 and 35 respectively. This is best shownin Fig. 1 and from Fig. 2 it will be noted that adjacent'their free edges the arms 45 of the members are pressed to provide grooves 46 which grooves receive the upper edge portions of the portions 37 and 38 and 41 and 42 of the members 36 and-35 respectively. Suitable means, as, for example,relatively long nails 4'7, maybe passed through the arms 45 of the members-43 whereby to secure such members to the base 10.

The end portion 48 of the member- 36 is in engagement with-the strip 11 and, if desired, a few pins 49 may be associated with'the opposite end of said member and a few pins 50 may be associated at the upper end of the'member 35. Pins 49 and 50 form extensions of the members with which they are associated. The path of travel 'of a marble shot from the projector 13 is along a path at the inner side of the strip 11 from the discharge end of the projector to thepoint where the end 48 of member'36 engages thestrip and then the marble follows such member '36'to the juncture of its portions 3'7 and 33 from whence the marble moves across the board to follow around at the inner side of the curved portions 4land 40 of the member 35.

Of course, the distance the marble travels will depend on the force with which the marble is projected and the marble may travel'beyond the free'e'nd portion of member 35 and engage the *pins 50 or it may pass through the space 51 between the pins 49 and 50 or itmay pass 'downwardly between the portion 3'7 of member 36 and the portions 40 and 41 of member 35 or it mayengage the said portion'37 and, on leaving thesame cross the board to engage the portion 42 of member 35. From this last it will be seen that the marble may take a course, substantially in the shape of a figure eight. (8)

Any suitable design as, for example, the stars andthe like shown in Fig. 1, may be formed on theplaying surface of the board, and suitable pockets .52 are provided at spaced points over the playing surface of the board for'the reception of the shot marbles. It will be appreciated that the different pockets maybe marked to indicate different numbers or points scored by a. player depending on which pocket a marble shot by him moves into. 7

When a board is in use it is supported in an inclined position and tothis end base 10 is provided with an opening 53 into which the upper end of a peg or prop 54 enters. This peg or prop extends only partially through the opening 53 whereby the upper portion of said opening constitutesa receptacle in which a marble may seat. The prop will support the upper end of the game board in position above a table or the like so that the board will be held at an incline and a projected marble when its force is spent will tend to gravitate toward the lower edge of the board and may enter one or the other of the pockets or not as the case may be.

It will be understood that the prop 541s removablefrom the opening 53 so that said prop may be disposed on the playing surface, of the board when the game is not beingused whereby the entire device may be slipped into a' flat box or the like. Pins or other obstructions 55 may be arranged at any desired points over the surface of the board so as to be engaged by moving marbles and change the direction of the marbles. A row 56 of pins is provided toward the lower end of the base 10 but inwardly of the portion 39 of the guideor barrier 36 and such row of pins extends for a substantial distance to each side of the longitudinal center of the base and acts to catch marbles which have passed of the pockets 52. Obviously, the barrier or row of pins or other means 56 will to a large extent serve to prevent the marbles which do not score from passing into the lower portion, designated 57, of the raceway and interfering withor slowing up succeeding marbles being shot through the raceway. c c

I The guides or barriers 35 and 36 being formed of strip stock are made without any waste of material such as would likely result if they were blanked out. It is but necessary to cut off lengths of the strip stock and owing to the manner in whieh'thestrips are supported or attached to the base 10 they may be of light gauge. At desired intervals along their lengths the strips are engaged by clips 58 which clips are formed of short lengths of fairly wide flat stock and each includes an in-turned orhooked upper end portion 59 receiving an upper edge portion of one of the strips 35 and 36 and each having its lowerend portion out-turned as at 60 and through which is passed a brad or other securing means 61.

"'These clips serve to draw the lower edges of the guides or barriers 35 and 36 firmly against the playing surface of the base and these clips being relatively wide engage the said barriers or guides over, a substantial area. and hold them firmly against wobbling or against assuming positions other than positions substantially perpendicular with respect to the playing surface of the base. -"I'he hooked upper ends of the clips plated to give a neat and; finished appearance.

Since the apparatus includes essentially only a board of wood, sheet metal strips, and nails or pins it will be clear that the apparatus may be.

' face of the base to provide a playing field. In

the drawing designs are shown on the upper and lower portions of the playing field and the design in each instance includes a star superposed on a series of concentric strips forming a bulls eye. The cups or pockets at the centers of the stars are shown as including portions in the form of metal strips and said portions, designated'62 may be secured in place by clips similar to clips 58 or they may be provided on their lower edges with prongs or teeth to be pressed into the base. It should also be noted that the barrier 56 serves to prevent a marble or other game piece which does not score from gravitating downwardly into the portion 57 of the raceway. Of course, it will be understood that the pins providing the cups 52, obstructions 55 and barrier 56 are held in place simply by being partially driven into the, base.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a game board, a base providing a field, a sheet metal strip about and secured to the edge of said base and extending above the upper surface thereof, means for projecting a game piece across the face of said base, a pair of shaped sheet metal strips each having an edge against the playing surface of the base and forming game piece guides or barriers, said shaped strips arranged in spaced relation and having portions at opposite sides of the center of the base 'curved inwardly and then outwardly toward and from the center of the base, a sheet metal piece associated with each of said shaped strips, said pieces substantially inverted L-shaped in transverse section and each having the edge of one arm against the'playing surface of the base at the outer side of its shaped strip and having the edge of its other arm shaped as the mentioned portion of its strip and engaging the upper edge thereof, means engaging the said other arm of each of said pieces and securing them to the base, and means forming pockets about the surface of the base between said shaped strips.

2. In a game board, a base providing a playing field, an upstanding flange about the edge of said field, means for projecting a marble onto said field, means for guiding the marble about the field, means forming pockets at spaced points about the field to receive marbles, said base having a hole'therethrough adjacent its upper edge, a peg entering said hole from the lower side of the base and removable therefrom and serving to support the base in an inclined position, and said peg extending only partially through the base whereby the upper portion of said hole may receive a marble projected onto said field.

3. In a game board, a baseproviding a playing field and having side, upper and lower edges, a sheet metal strip about the side and upper edges of said base and secured to said edges and extending above the playing field, a sheet metal member at the lower edge of said base, said member substantially in the form of an inverted U and having the free edge portion of one arm secured to the lower edge of the base, said member having its connecting portion extending over the base and having the free edge of its other arm engaging the playing surface of the base, an extension on one end of the connecting portion of the member and over-lapping the upper edge of an end portion of said sheet metal strip, means to project a marble across the face of the base, and means forming pockets at spaced points about the face of the base.

4. In a game board, a base providing a field, a sheet metal strip about and secured to the edge of said base and extending above the upper surface thereof, means for projecting a game piece across the face of said. base, said means including a housing and a spring pressed means in the housing, said housing comprising a sheet metal angle member having the free edge of one of its arms bent and hooked over the upper edge of said strip, and said member having the free edge of its other arm out-turned and secured to said base.

5. In a game board, a base providing a field, a

strip about and secured to the base and extending above the upper surface thereof, means for projecting a game piece across the face of said base, a shaped sheet metal strip having an edge against the upper surface of the base and having the lower portion of its inner surface forming a game piece guide or barrier inwardly of the edges of the base, means securing said strip to'thebase, said means including a clip at the outer side of the strip and having a hook at its upper edge snugly receiving the upper edge of the strip, said clip including relatively broad flat surfaces engaging the upper portion of the inner surface of the strip and the outer surface thereof for the height thereof, said clip having its lower end portion out-turned in a direction away from the strip to provide a foot piece against said base, means securing said foot piece to the base, and means forming pockets about the playing surface of the base,

6. In a game board, a wood base providing a field, a sheet metal strip about the edge of said base and extending above the upper surface thereof, means passing through the strip and into the base and securing the base and strip together, means for projecting a game piece across the face of said base, a pair of shaped sheet metal strips each having an edge against the playing surface of the base and forming game piece guides or barriers, means passing into the base and securing the shaped strips thereto, said shaped strips arranged in spaced relation and having portions at opposite sides of the center of the base curved inwardly and outwardly toward and from the center line of the base, means securing said strips to the base, and means forming pockets about the surface of the base between said shaped strips.

. FRANK L. LINDSTROM. 

